County Hurdle
14:00 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-13
The William Hill County Hurdle is a fiercely competitive handicap hurdle run over 2m1f as the second race on day four of the Cheltenham Festival. Until a change in the running order in 2009 it was staged as the final race of the festival and was known as the getting-out stakes, as it offered punters a final chance to find a winner. Nine of the last ten runnings have been won by Willie Mullins or Dan Skelton. Check the William Hill County Hurdle runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
No runners
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Kargese | 1221-2 | 5 | 3/1F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2024 | Absurde | 617P4 | 6 | 12-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2023 | Faivoir | 5-4P | 8 | 33-1 | Dan Skelton | Bridget Andrews |
| 2022 | State Man | 2-F1 | 5 | 11-4F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2021 | Belfast Banter | 312562 | 6 | 33-1 | Peter Fahey | K C Sexton |
| 2020 | Saint Roi | 23-51 | 5 | 11-2 | Willie Mullins | Barry Geraghty |
| 2019 | Ch’tibello | 0-5692 | 8 | 12-1 | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 2018 | Mohaayed | 31-023 | 6 | 33-1 | Dan Skelton | Bridget Andrews |
| 2017 | Arctic Fire | 2-1142- | 8 | 20-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2016 | Superb Story | 444-12 | 5 | 8-1 | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 2015 | Wicklow Brave | F-580P | 6 | 25-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- At least one top-three finish in last two starts, 8/10
- Aged five or six, 7/10
- Officially rated 134-141, 7/10
- Carried no more than 11st 1lb, 7/10 (two of the exceptions trained by Willie Mullins)
- Ran no more than nine times over hurdles, 6/10
Other factors
- There have been nine winning novices since 1996.
- Ireland has won six of the last ten runnings, including five for Willie Mullins. Dan Skelton accounts for the last four British-trained winners.
We have all the best Cheltenham Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the 2026 William Hill County Hurdle
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - COUNTY HURDLE 2025
The last three winning favourites in the County Hurdle have been trained by Willie Mullins after Kargese’s triumph. The Kenny Alexander-owned mare headed the betting for the 16-runner race at 3-1 and won with plenty in hand under Paul Townend. Mullins also saddled the third-placed Absurde and the fourth-placed Ethical Diamond.